Giles-Culpeper-Roanoke City County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Johnston, James David, Jr. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Alice Warner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003503 July 10, 2008, 4:03 pm

Author: Lyon G. Tyler LLD


JOHNSTON, JAMES DAVID, JR., lawyer, was born in the town of Pearisburg, Giles
county, Virginia, September 16, 1869. His father was Hon. James David Johnston,
a wealthy and distinguished attorney of Giles county, who served in the general
assembly of Virginia as a member of the house of delegates from his county, and
who also held the office of commonwealth's attorney. He was noted for his
ability as a lawyer and his high character as a man. He was a captain in the
Confederate army. His grandfather was Col. Andrew Johnston, a business man of
large interests. His mother was Mary Ann Fowler, daughter of Dr. Thomas Fowler,
an eminent physician, who was born in Cocke county, Tennessee, and lived at "
Wild-wood " on New river, Monroe county (now Summers), West Virginia. 

The Johnstons are Scotch-Irish, having migrated from Annandale, Scotland, into
Ireland during the religious persecutions and after the fall of Londonderry. Sir
Walter Scott refers to the clan in the following words : 
" Within the bounds of Annandale 
The gentle Johnstons ride; 
They have been here a thousand years, 
And a thousand more they'll bide." 

Mr. Johnston's great-grandfather, David Johnston, came to Virginia from
Eniskillen, Fermanagh county, Ireland, and settled in Culpeper county, Virginia,
about 1736, and removed in 1778 to Giles county. Among his relatives who have
been distinguished for public service were his paternal great-uncle, James
Johnston, who served in the American army in the War of the Revolution, and was
with Washington at Valley Forge; and his maternal uncle, the Hon. I. C. Fowler,
who was speaker of the house of delegates of Virginia in 1877-1878. His maternal
uncle. Allen Fowler, was a colonel in the Confederate army and afterwards a
distinguished physician of Salt Lake City, Utah.


Mr. Johnston's boyhood was spent in a country village, where he looked after his
father's farm. After attending the schools of his neighborhood, he entered Emory
and Henry college; later, Randolph-Macon college; and studied law at the
University of Virginia, graduating from the last named institution in June,
1893, with the degree of Bachelor of Law. 

In the November after his graduation, Mr. Johnston began the practice of law in
Roanoke, Virginia, which he has continued with success and distinction up to the
present time (1906). He is vice-president and director of the Yost-Huff company,
one of the leading implement firms of Roanoke, vice-president and director of
the Columbia Trust company, director of the First National bank of Pearisburg,
and was a director in the Peoples National bank of Roanoke, which has now
consolidated with the National Exchange bank. He is a Democrat in his political
creed, and served in the Roanoke city council from July 1, 1901, to September 1.
1904. He was elected president of the council in 1903, and held that office from
July 1, 1903, to September 1, 1904. He declined reelection and gave the members
of council a banquet at Hotel Roanoke, which was a notable affair. At the
centennial of the formation of Giles county, held May 12, 1906, Mr. Johnston was
one of the orators. 

He is a member of the Kappa Sigma college fraternity, and assisted in the
organization of chapters of the fraternity at the College of William and Mary,
Williamsburg, Virginia, and Randolph-Macon, Ashland, Virginia. 

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the founder of the
Young Men's Brotherhood of Trinity Methodist church, of Roanoke. He is a
director in the Roanoke Young Men's Christian association.

 He takes an interest in games and sports of all kinds, and is especially fond
of riding and driving. 

His address is 30 Day Avenue, Southwest, Roanoke, Virginia.

Additional Comments:
From Men of Mark in Virginia: Ideals of American Life by Lyon G. Tyler LLD, 1907.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/giles/bios/johnston120gbs.txt

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